Catch mechanism for double-door-operating devices



Aug. 17, 1926. 1,596,683

R. L.. PERKlNS CATCH MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE DOOR OPERATING DEVICES Filed Dec. 1, 1924 INVENTOR Ross .L Perkirgs BY QMQ mm ATTORNEY 5 such as are commonly doors open to their Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

} UNITED stares ROSS L. PERKINS, 0F OROSI, CALIFORNIA.

CATCH MECHANISM non DOUBLE-DOOR-OPERATING DEVICES.

Application filed December 1,1924. Serial N0. 753,118.

This invention relates to improvements in door controlling mechanisms and particularly to a type of mechanism especially intend ed to be applied to double swinging doors,

used on private garages and the like.

The subject matter of this invention parti cularly represents an improvement over the type of catch structure shown in my copending applicationon door control mechanism filed February 18th, 19%, Serial No.

693,555, and is preferably applied in con-- nection with a door operating device substantially the same as is shown in sald application.

The principal object .of this invention is to provide a catch mechanism which will automatically engage a member of the operating device when the 'doors are opened, and which can be easily and quickly released by one hand when it is desired to close the doors. r

Another object is to construct the catch mechanism in such a manner that it may be easily adjusted and set to function effectively whether the door operating mechanism is adjusted to cause the doors to open so as to be parallel to each other or at diverging angles, and will then operate to hold the fullest extent.

The catch mechanism is also so arranged that without any change in construction it may be mounted in connection with either the right hand or left hand door.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposes for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as'will fully appear by a perusal'of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views g I Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pair of doors and their operating mechanism, the doors being in open position and the catch member being engaged therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical or cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the door operating and latch mechanism as engaged with each other, and partly broken out.

to the door.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 4% of Fig.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the door frame of a garage or the like, to the opposite sides of which are hinged the usual doors 2.

The door operating mechanism to which my catch is applied comprises a horizontal bracket 3 mounted on the inside of one of the doors adjacent the front end thereof and near the hinged edge,the door beingprefw erably the right hand one. a

A horizontal arm 4 is fixed onto the bracket near the hinged edge of the door and extends at a suitable angle to the door in wardly of the same. The arm is further held from movement by a horizontal diagonal brace 5 extending between the bracket and the arm, and by a vertical diagonal brace 6 extending downwardly from the arm The brace 5 and the bracket 3 are preferably made adjustable relative to each other so that the angle of the arm 4 relative to the door may be altered, so that when the door is opened a desired distance the arm 4 is practically parallel to the frame 1, as shown in Fig.1. I v r To the outer end of the arm l is pivoted one end of a horizontal arm structure 7, the other end of which is connected to a bracket 8 mounted on the other door 2 at a suitable point. The arm'structure is telescopic and adjustable as to length so that in connection with the adjustment of the arm 3, the extent to which thedoors may be opened may be varied. j V 7 The structure thus far described is sub stantially the same asshown in the above identified co-pending application, though in itself forming no part of the present invention, is necessary inconnection with my catch mechanism.

This mechanism. comprises ,a bracket 9 mounted on the inside of the upper or horizontal portion of the door frame 1,fon the lower end of which bracket is pivoted a latch bar 10. The bracket terminates a certain distance above the plane of thearm 4:,

.and is so disposed laterally ofthe door that the latch, which extends at right angles to the frame, will engage the arm 4 interme diate its ends when the doors are open. The

lower faceof the latch bar adjacent its outer end is notched asat 11 to fit over the armt,

and

i as

the forward end of the bar 10 having a nose 10 then depending below the lower side of said arm. The bar 10 when clear of the arm hangs down of itself with the notch 11 at its lower end and facing inwardly of the garage,

In operation when the doors are closed the arm 4 projects inwardly of the garage and to one side of the plane of the catch, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As the doors are opened the arm 4: moves through an arc of which the door hinges form the center, and ultimately engages the downward hanging latch bar.

A further movement of the" arm will then cause saidbar to be raised until finally the notch thereon engages the arm and prevents further outward movement of the latter. The bar 10 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 12 through any one of which the pivotal pin 13 may be placed. Thus the distance of the notched endof the bar outwardly from the bracket '9 may be altered, to accommodate the bar to different Widths of door frames and other conditions.

The latch bar is released at will by the following means:

Extending under the arm 4: and journaled in lugs 14 thereon is a rod 15 having a trip plate 16 fixed thereon in the lateral plane of the latch bar. This plate extends beyond the outer side'edge of the arm l and is adapted when raised by turning of the rod to raise the nose 1O ofthe bar a suflicient distance so that the notch 11 in said bar will clear the arm fand allow the doors to be closed.

The rod 15 at its end nearest the door has a downwardly extending arm 17 to the lower end of which is connected a wire 18.

This wire extends downa'longside the door to a connection with a ,turnable handle member 19 pivoted on a bracket 20 which is mounted at a convenient position on the door. To normally" hold the trip plate 16 down and the handle 19 atone end of its stroke, a tension spring21 isfixed at one end on the lower end of'the arm 17 and at its other end to the adjacent lug 1 1 to one side of the rod 15. i

The latch plate 16 is, double or symmetrical on both sides of the rod 15 so that it may be us ed without change, whether thearm4 is on a right hand or a left hand door. For the samereason the lug to which the spring 21 is connected is arranged so that said spring maybe fastened thereto on either side of therod 15. I I

The'trip plate 16 is preferably made considerably longer than the width of thelatch bar 1O so that in inst-allin thejl atter great jcareneed not betaken a ining it with the "trip'plate. A From the foregoing description it ,will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forthherein.

the plate for While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. a

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new'and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A latch structure for use in connection witha door operating structure'havinga horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that'when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, and comprising a latch member mounted on the frame and arranged to automatically-engage the arm when the latter moves to its dooropening position.

2. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, comprising alatch member mountedon the frame and arranged to automatically engage the 'arm when the latter moves to its dooropening position, and means operable from bellow the latch for releasing the same at wi :l'. a 3. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be'disposcd substantially parallelto the lateral plane of the door-frame,

comprising a'latch member mounted on the frame and arranged to automatically engage the armwhen the latter'moves to its dooropening position, a trip-plate mounted on the arm and engageable with the latch member to release the same, and means mounted on the door and operatively connected with actuating the same.

' 1; A latch structure for use in connection with a doorbperating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the'door-frame, comprising a latch member mounted on the frame and arranged to automaticallyengage the arm when the latter'moves t'ofits' dooropening position,'a movable handle on the door, and meansassociated with the handle for enabling the latch member-to be released at will "with a movement of said handle. 7

5. A latch structure for use in connection CPI with a door operating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle there-- to such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially,

parallel to the lateral plane of the doorframe, comprising a latch member mounted on the frame and arranged to automatically engage the arm when the latter moves to its door-opening position, a movable handle on the door, a trip plate mounted on the arm and engageable with the latch member to re lease the same, and means between said plate and handle for actuatingthe former with a movement of the latter.

6. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, comprising a latch member mounted on the frame and arranged to automatically engage the arm when the latter moves to its door-opening position, a movable handle on the door, a trip plate mounted on the arm and engageable with the latch member to release the same, a rod turnably mounted onthe arm and on which the plate is fixed, an

arm extending radially fromthe rod, and

a connection between said rod arm and the handle. a

7. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure having a horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto such that when the door isfully opened said arm will be disposed substantially par allel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on the door frame inwardly of the door and adapted to project over and engage the arm plate mounted on the arm under when the latter moves to a door opening position, and means whereby with such opening movement. the latch bar will be moved to automatically engage the arm.

8. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure'having a horizontal arm mounted onthe inner face of the door and extending at an angle there to, such that when the door is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on the door frame inwardly of the door and adapted to project over the arm when the latter moves to a door opening position, said bar having a notch on its under side to fit over the arm; and a trip plate mounted on the arm under the plane of the bar in lateral alinement therewith, and normally depressed therefrom, and means for raising the plate into engagement with the bar at will. 7

9. A latch structure for use in connection with a door operating structure having :1 horizontal arm mounted on the inner face of the door and extending at an angle thereto, such that when thedoor is fully opened said arm will be disposed substantially parallel to the lateral plane of the door-frame, comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on the door frame inwardly of the door and adapted to project over the arm when the atter moves to a door opening position, said bar having a notch on its under side to fit over the arm,- and a nose on its outer end then projecting below the arm, and a trip the plane of the bar and in lateral alinement therewith, said plate being adapted to be'raised into engagement with the nose to lift the same at will. 7 a

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROSS L. PERKINS. 

